There are many risk factors for stroke. These include:

Major risk factors:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and other heart problems
• Diabetes Mellitus

Other risk factors include:

• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Migraine headaches
• Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (see Antiphospholipid Antibodies test page)
• Cocaine abuse
• High Cholesterol
• Smoking

Most strokes are preceded by one or more mini-strokes (called transient ischemic attacks or TIAs) that should act as a warning to seek medical attention immediately. While symptoms of a stroke typically persist, symptoms of a TIA typically resolve on their own within a few hours. The five most common symptoms of a stroke or TIA are:

• sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, usually on one side of the body
• sudden loss of speech or trouble talking or understanding what is said
• sudden dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
• sudden blurred vision
• severe, unexplained headache